the Shofar A Sephardic Shabbat with David s Harp Cantor Buckner Away Sunday, June 3 16 Iyar - 17 Tammuz 5778 / May - June 2018

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1 the Shofar INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cantor s Column 1 A Sephardic Shabbat 1 Cantor Away 1 Annual Meeting 1 Condolences 2 Kid s Stuff 2 Yizkor Book 3 Shavuot 3 Tag Sale 3 Community Food Cupboard 3 Omer: A Counting By Cantor Buckner It was wonderful to host my first communal Passover Seder at ICM on Saturday evening March 31. We had a wonderful group who both attended and participated in the Seder, celebrating the story of our people s journey from slavery to freedom. That night, as part of the second Seder, we began to count the Omer. This is a yearly counting, which begins on Passover and ends on Shavuot. Each of these forty-nine evenings, we count the Omer with a blessing, followed by the recitation of that day s number in the order of the counting. This ritual of counting is mandated in the Torah - Leviticus 23:15 You shall count from the eve of the second continued on page 2 A Sephardic Shabbat with David s Harp High Holidays 4 Birthdays & Anniversaries 4 Mazel Tov 4 Adult Education 4 Centennial Gala 5 Kolot B shir Choir Schedule 5 July 4th BBQ 5 About ICM/ Shabbat Services/ Contact Info/ Advertisements Cantor Buckner Away Cantor Buckner will be away from May 17 to May 23. In his absence Rabbi Emeritus Michael Cohen will be available for rabbinic needs. You may reach Rabbi Cohen during the day at and in the evening/on Sunday at Take a musical journey to Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East when David s Harp, a Philadelphia-based ensemble, comes to Israel Congregation on Friday, May 4 for an evening of Sephardic Jewish music, prayer and storytelling. Beginning at 6:30 pm, the service will be enriched by the exotic sounds and spiritual energy of David s Harp which is led by Joseph Alpar, an ethnomusicologist and visiting faculty member at Bennington College. Our Kolot B shire Choir will sing along. Joseph will also talk about his doctoral research into Istanbul's Jewish community in a presentation entitled Between Tradition and Innovation: Shabbat Musical Practice Among the Hazzanim of Istanbul. continued on page 2 Sunday, June 3 Join your fellow congregants on Sunday, June 3 at 9:30 am (bagels) for ICM s Annual Meeting that begins at 10:00 am. This will be your opportunity to vote on your new officers and Board of Directors, approve the synagogue s budget for the upcoming year, and catch up with fellow congregants. Information packets are on their way to you in the mail.

2 Omer: A Counting continued from page 1 day of Pesach, when an Omer of grain is to be brought as an offering, seven complete weeks. An Omer (literally a sheaf) was a measure of grain to be brought as an offering. This practice ends on Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. Shavuot celebrates the giving of Torah. On Shavuot, there are traditions of studying Torah through the night as a remembrance and an honoring of Torah as a gift and a guide for our lives. That study is called Tikkun Leyl Shavuot. This year Rabbi Michael Cohen will be leading this traditional night of study on Saturday, May 19 at 8 pm at his home (refer to Shavuot article for details). The period of the Omer now symbolizes the thematic link between Passover and Shavuot. Passover, the time of our freedom and Shavuot, the giving of the Torah representing the laws and values of a society. The lesson here is that freedom without justice and a moral code is not true freedom. We should bear in mind this connection as we notice or become aware of any group in our society that suffers injustice. Where there is no justice, there is no freedom. That is what we are reminded of as we continue to count the Omer until Shavuot. I look forward to welcoming you to our many religious, educational and musical happenings this spring and summer as the flowers begin to bloom and we enjoy the return of many members to our beautiful state from warmer climates. Shalom. Condolences Jennifer Atlas (John Coppola) on the loss of her father, Ernest Atlas. David s Harp continued from page 1 Page 2 During our communal dinner that follows the service, our musical guests will perform a short, interactive program of rousing Ladino folk tunes and soulful ballads on themes of Jewish ritual, love and domestic life. With a repertoire drawn from Ottoman court music, Sephardic pizmonim, Ladino folk songs, Turkish fasıl music and Greek rebetiko (among other genres), David's Harp reveals the fluidity and blending of diverse musical motifs among the Jewish, Muslim and Christian worlds. Since its inception six years ago, this evocative musical group has given standing room-only concerts at the Center for Jewish History, Drexel University, Yale University, The Penn Museum, the CUNY Graduate Center and other venues in New York, Philadelphia and New England. In the spirit of peace and friendship, David s Harp is dedicated to keeping this rich artistic heritage of musical exchange alive. Kid s Stuff By Morgan Taylor We re having a great spring with the children. Purim was a blast! There were many amusing costumes, lots of noise-making and sufganiyot for dessert. We were also lucky to have Ida Mae Specker playing fiddle for us during dinner! After dinner the kids all piled outside and played on the lawn out back. The kids are continuing their Hebrew School lessons on the Hebrew alephbet and the cycle of Jewish holidays. It s incredible to hear them actually reading Hebrew! June is around the corner which means Hebrew School comes to end for this school year. It s been a great year, thank you Rebecca Sherman and Cantor Buckner! Remember to bring the kids to our Shabbat Together! services on Saturday, May 12, at 10:30 am.

3 Yizkor Book of Remembrance Update Page 3 New this year! An opportunity to tell a story about a loved one of blessed memory on your own page. Get more information when you attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 3. There will be a Yizkor Book of Remembrance table to renew your tributes or to submit new ones. We need to begin working on this memorial book earlier than usual since the High Holidays begin in early September. Now in its fifth year, the Book of Remembrance is a heartfelt way to honor family and friends of blessed memory while building a stronger ICM community. Questions? Contact Rosalie Fox at or rosalie.g.fox@gmail.com. Shavuot Shavuot is the celebration of the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai. To celebrate, there will be a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot at the home of Rabbi Michael Cohen and Alison Hill on Saturday night May 19 at 8:00 pm where there will be study of Torah. If you are interested in participating, please call the office for their address. At ICM on Sunday morning May 20, Rabbi Cohen will lead a study of the Ten Commandments at 9:30 am followed by a Yizkor service at 10:30 am. Our Tag Sale is on Sunday, June 10 First Drop Off is May 3 Did you know that people have already called to find out when they ll need to schedule their vacation in order to shop the best tag sale of the summer? That s because of your awesome donations! Since the Tag Sale is a bit earlier this year, you may begin dropping off your stuff May 3. Please remember to call the office to see if someone is there to let you into the building. We do not want items left outside! Jewelry is always needed and profitable; do separate any jewelry and leave it with Lisa in the office. When considering your donations: If you wouldn t buy it, we won t be able to sell it. We will start to set up on Monday, June 4. Please volunteer to help; we need you! Of special note: The Dorset Exchange Consignment on Route 30 has been generous in supporting our Tag Sale with great merchandise. Please thank Stephanie and Diane and support them by buying at their shop. Reminder: We cannot accept books, electronics, computers, televisions, mattresses, skis or any children's items that have safety regulations and/ or recalls cribs, strollers, car seats and toys! If you have any questions, please reach out to Sheila Mills at mills@sover.net. May is ICM s Month at CFC During the entire month of May, ICM has committed to staffing the Community Food Cupboard on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 and Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00 and 2:00 to 4:00. To claim your shift, contact Micki Lisman at or or Jackie Haft at jackie@haft.com or

4 High Holidays begin Sunday, September 9 The High Holidays are fast approaching and planning and preparation will begin in mid- May. There are many opportunities for congregants to participate. If you read Hebrew fluently and would like to be a Torah reader, please contact Cantor Buckner as soon as possible. Torah trope help will be available electronically and in person. If you would like to participate in the choir, please contact the Cantor as well. If you would like to participate in other ways, Carol Goldsmith at cgoldsmith251@gmail.com. Rosh Hashanah Sunday Evening, September 9 Monday & Tuesday, September 10 & 11 Kol Nidre Tuesday, September 18 Yom Kippur Wednesday, September 19 Mazel Tov Lynne & Les Abcug on the bar mitzvah of Jayden. Paula & Harvey Alpart on the bat mitzvah of Maxine. Helena & Neil Davidoff on the bat mitzvah of Hailey. Sheila & Russell Mills on the marriage of Jennifer & Matthew Novak. Ina & Al Rubin on the bar mitzvah of Milo. Marlene & David Skulnik on the bar mitzvah of Ben. C e L e B R a T e Adult Education Page 4 May & June Birthdays & Anniversaries May Birthdays Ellen Agress Paula Alpart Morgan Engel Peter Engel Al Feldan Marvin Friedlander Nelson Friedman Stephen Gottdiener Larry Grossman Neil Katzman Seth Linfield Stan Lisman Leslie Merkelson Marianne Pannelli Al Rubin Stella Stoly Fred Wexler Eileen Wolff May Anniversaries Michele & Elliott Zide June Birthdays Harvey Alpart Stephen Cohen Noah Jacob Coppola Jeremy Dworkin Esther Mandelheim Elliott Deanne Gilman Donna Goldin Debra Kass Patti Katzman Micki Lisman Herb Millman Beth Rosenthal Jason Rosenthal Judy Rudiakov Mark Szuchman Bryce Taylor Levi Taylor June Anniversaries Ellen & Jerry Alpart Sherri & Rabbi Bob Alper Joanne & Matthew Beck Carol & Phil Goldsmith Lynda & Bruce Hobson Elinor & Joel Katz Janet & Herb Millman Lynette & Ed Novick Lois & Phil Perlah Marilyn & Ed Rice Ivy & Bill Schwartz Cantor Buckner s adult study group continues to meet on Tuesdays at 10:30 am. You need not have attended a prior session to attend one/ any when you are able to. If you wish to participate via Skype, let Cantor Buckner know and he ll include you. Our adult study group is still reading and analyzing the Book of Job. The Book of Job confronts the most perplexing questions of divine reward and punishment. The God of Torah is a God of justice, or so the story goes. Job questions that assumption and addresses the moral issue of why bad things happen to good people. Join in the discussion and wrestle with what many consider one of the greatest books of the Bible. Study Group Schedule for May & June All classes are 10:30 am May 1, 8, 15 June 5, 19, 26

5 The Centennial Gala Sunday, August 19 While there were a few Jewish families in Manchester, Vermont before 1918, there were no communal gatherings to conduct services until two men, Philip Cohen and Noah Kamenetsky, studied the possibility of doing so. Well versed in the teachings of the Torah and Talmud, Cohen and Kamenetsky held discussions and meetings around a pot-bellied stove in a little corner store in Manchester Depot. They eventually assembled a minyan as other Jewish families moved into town and began donating religious necessities. We will celebrate what would eventually be Israel Congregation of Manchester, 100 years since our humble beginnings. Our Centennial Gala will be held on Sunday, August 19. During the Gala, we will be honoring Lana and Ben Hauben for their dedication to Jewish life in our community. Our beautiful invitation was designed by our own Elizabeth Torak and contains original artwork by Elizabeth. It will be a glorious evening at the Barrow s House under the stars (tent) beginning with beautiful music from Ari Rudiakov and Joana Genova during the cocktail hour. During the event, Maxine Linehan will share her lovely voice in a short musical program. A wonderful dinner, dancing to the tunes of a deejay, live and silent auctions (the details of which will be in the next Shofar issue), and a raffle, all to raise funds to enable Israel Congregation to provide innovative and unique programs to the entire community in the Manchester area. You will be receiving your invitations mid-june, but until then, mark your calendars! Please let us know if you would like to volunteer. Ron Lissak and Cathy Rano, co-chairs Page 5 Kolot B shir (Voices in Song) ICM Choir Schedule (all rehearsals & services at ICM): May Rehearsal Tuesday May 1, 5:30-6:30 pm Friday service May 4, 5:45 pm warm-up, 6:30 pm service with David s Harp June Rehearsals Tuesdays June 5 and 12, 5:30-6:30 pm Friday service June 15, 5:45 pm warm-up, 6:30 pm service Save the Date: Annual 4th of July Barbecue! The latest news from the Town of Manchester is that fireworks will be displayed on Wednesday, July 4. That means that our barbecue will begin at 5:30 pm on July 4! Be prepared for an evening that starts with the talents of students and faculty from Taconic Music, led by Ariel Rudiakov and Joana Genova, and continues with delicious food, camaraderie, fun, our Seventh Annual Baked Goods Auction, and fabulous fireworks provided by the Town of Manchester. Oh, and ICM s reserved parking space can be yours for a year if you out-bid your fellow congregants for it. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, please save the date and reach out to Russell or Sheila Mills at mills@sover.net if you have any questions.

6 Israel Congregation is a thriving 160 household synagogue that draws from diverse Jewish backgrounds, of both full-and part-time residents of Southern Vermont. We are a welcoming Jewish space for all. Our doors are always open on Friday night where worship is followed by our Communal Shabbat Dinner. We welcome all on Shabbat morning, Jewish holy days and festivals. Join us for adult and children s education and an array of social events. ICM is located at 6025 Main Street (Route 7A) between the medical offices and Town Hall. Our building is ADA accessible. Office: Cantor: Website: office@icmvt.org 6025 Main Street / P.O. Box 1050 Manchester Center, Vermont The Grave Subject Your Estate Planner Doesn t Discuss Remove the burden from your heirs and choose your final resting place. ICM s burial section in Bennington Park Lawn Cemetery was chosen not only for its spectacular views, but also because of its fine reputation and reasonable prices, including perpetual care. Moreover, the management has a proven sensitivity in honoring our service with the dignity, sanctity and modesty required of a Jewish funeral. Double and single plots are available. Contact ICM s office for more information. Shabbat at ICM Preneg (pre-service 5:45 pm Page 6 Friday Evening 6:30 pm Communal pot luck dinner follows our 6:30 pm services. (Please bring a parve or dairy side dish or dessert.) Saturday Morning Torah 9 am: Torah study through a Mussar lens. Mussar is an engaging practice of turning everyday life situations into opportunities for spiritual growth. Shabbat Together! Kids and adults engage in prayer, learning and 10:30 am the second Saturday of each month. (Note: No Shabbat Together on June 9.) Our weekly calendar updates, FB page and website will keep you apprised of any scheduling changes. Clergy and Spiritual Leader: Cantor Scott Buckner Board of Directors Rebecca Fishkin, President Elisabeth Prial, First Vice President Sheila Mills, Second Vice President Phil Perlah, Treasurer Carol Goldsmith, Recording Secretary Cathy Rano, Past President Lee Fox, Ed Glazer, Lana Hauben, Ron Lissak, Marvin Rappaport, Morgan Taylor Shofar Editorial Committee: Ann Cole, Carol Goldsmith, Lana Hauben, Marlene Skulnik, Laurie Sullivan, Morgan Taylor Synagogue Administrator: Lisa Bendik Rabbi Emeritus: Rabbi Michael Cohen